Culture must connect, not divide our world: PM Modi at UNESCO

Prime minister Narendra Modi addressed a gathering of about1,300 distinguished guests at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on the occasion of 70th anniversary of the world cultural organisation on Friday.

Highlights of PM’s speech as it happened

Culture must connect not divide.

Culture is a sublime expression of a people; and, the foundations of a society.

UNESCO's initiatives to preserve the world's cultural heritage, including in India, are inspiring.

Science also unites people across borders in a shared purpose.

We must do more to harness science for human welfare in some of the most vulnerable parts of world–especially for health & food security.

The fault lines in our world are shifting from boundaries of nations into the web of our societies & the streets of our cities.

For us science is driven by larger purpose of human development and, for a safe, sustainable, prosperous future for India.

I recall Mahatma Gandhi's message to UNESCO calling for urgent action to address the needs of education to secure lasting peace.

Today, the digital age has created opportunities beyond imagination; but, digital divide can expand disparities.

Digital connectivity and smart phones have create a revolution of possibilities to educate, deliver services and extend development.

Our Digital India will create a participative, transparent and a responsive government, connected to the citizens. And, we have launched a digital literacy mission to connect each of our 600,000 villages.

Highest priority for my government is to provide a roof over every head, power in every house, sanitation and clean water within everyone's reach. It also includes clean rivers, air that we can breathe and forests filled with the sound of birds.

Yoga awakens a sense of oneness and harmony with self, society and Nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change and create a more balanced world.

The campaign to clean our Ganges River is a mission that connects culture, science, traditional knowledge, education, economy, and, environment; but, it is also about attitudes and lifestyles.

Modi is in Paris as part of his three-nation visit, Modi will meet French President Hollande and hold a tête-à-tête before holding bilateral talks. The two leaders will receive a report of Indo-French CEOs forum. Then they will take a boat ride on the Seine, before President Hollande hosts a banquet for the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister's special Air India aircraft landed at the Orly International Airport late Thursday night, or just past midnight India time.

On Friday evening he will have boat ride with president Hollande, which is being described as 'naav pe charcha' (chat on boat).

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